Having a Green Holiday

Gift Wrapping Gone Green

Have you done all of your holiday shopping?

If so, it's time to think about gift wrapping.  This year, consider this:

In the US, the annual trash from gift wrap and shopping bags totals over 4 million tons. If everyone wrapped just three gifts in reused paper or fabric gift bags, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 hockey rinks.

Here are some green tips to keep in mind before you give your friends and loved ones their gifts.

1. Use environmentally friendly wrapping paper

Choose wrapping paper made using fibers such as hemp, or paper using recycled content.

2. Avoid buying glossy foil or metallic wrapping paper 

You can do a beautifully wrapping job for your gifts without having to use metallic wrapping paper. This kind of 'paper' is difficult to recycle and it has no value for use as mulch since there are heavy metals used in the foil paper. Foil gift wrap is also harder to reuse, since it wrinkles and creases easily when the gift is being unwrapped.

3. Reuse gift wrap where possible 

Large wrapped presents usually have large enough un-creased sections to be reused for wrapping smaller gifts. If you open large gift packages with care, the paper can be set aside for re-use for other gift-giving occasions. Fancy ribbons and bows, of course, can be stored in a box till next year when you'll appreciate having them around and not having to buy new ones.

4. Use tape sparingly, or not at all 

If you're going to use ribbon to finish off your wrapping, you may not need to use tape. By not using tape, more of the wrapping paper can be reclaimed, and it's easier for the recipient to save the wrapping for reuse. 

5. Choose alternatives to commercial gift wrap 

There are many options which are cost-free, attractive solutions. Gift bags can be made using fabric scraps, or wrapping can be made using comic strips from the paper, old calendars, maps, posters and more.

This list was inspired from the article "Alternatives to Wrapping Paper" by eartheasy.com.

Grady Management, Inc. was founded in 1965 and continues to provide full service residential, commercial and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area. Learn more about Grady Management on our website or Facebook page.